"I came across a photograph of him not long ago, his black face with the long snout sniffing at something in the air, his tail straight and pointing, his eyes flashing in some momentary excitement. Looking at a faded photograph taken more than forty years before, even as a grown man, I would admit I still missed him."

In 1943 in a
sleepy town on the banks of the Yazoo River, a boy fell in love with a puppy with
a lively gait and an intellectual way of listening. A classic story of a boy, a
dog, and small-town America, My Dog Skip belongs on the same shelf as
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Russell Baker's Growing Up. It
will enchant readers of all ages for years to come.

"Written with the gentle wisdom of an E.B. White and the eternal youth of a Huck Finn." --Atlanta Journal-Constitution
"Marvelous . . . a tribute to the dog, the place, and the time." --Washington Post

About
the Author

Willie Morris's last book, My Cat Spit McGee was published by Random House in Fall 1999. He lived in Jackston, Mississippi, until his death in 1999.

About
the Film

A
funny, heartfelt coming-of-age story, "My Dog Skip" is
based on award-winning author WILLIE MORRIS best-selling memoir
of his boyhood. Directed by JAY RUSSELL, the film is a humorous
and moving testimony to a unique friendship.

The year is 1942. As the Allies unite overseas to keep the world
safe for democracy, there are voices at home that are barely heard.
One of them belongs to Willie Morris (FRANKIE MUNIZ), a shy and
gawky eight-year-old whose childhood is even more quiet and isolated
than his home town of Yazoo, Mississippi. An only child, ignored
at school and uncomfortable with girls, Willie looks up to and confides
in next-door neighbor Dink Jenkins (LUKE WILSON), the towns
star athlete, whos preparing to ship out in the service of
Uncle Sam.

Willies father, Jack Morris (KEVIN BACON), a stern but good-hearted
veteran who lost his leg in the Spanish Civil War, is chiefly responsible
for Willies overprotective upbringing. Pushing in the other
direction is his mother, Ellen Morris (DIANE LANE), a capable woman
who knows that what Willie needs most is some freedom and a
friend. Willies ninth birthday gives her an opportunity to
offer him both, in the form of a Jack Russell terrier puppy that
the delighted Willie names Skip.

Skips outgoing personality helps Willie to build a friendship
with Rivers Applewhite (CAITLIN WACHS), the prettiest girl in school.
Skip then further serves as matchmaker for Willie and Rivers at
the movie theater, and lends a paw after Willie is challenged by
Big Boy Wilkinson (BRADLEY CORYELL), Henjie Henick (DAYLAN HONEYCUTT)
and Spit McGee (CODY LINLEY) to prove his worth in a football game.
With Skips canine help, Willie starts becoming "one of
the boys."

Then unexpectedly, Dink returns to Yazoo. But the dark truth soon
emerges: Dink, when confronted by the realities of war, went AWOL.
In trying to reconcile his hero worship of the Dink he once knew
with his disappointment in the disgraced soldier, Willie begins
to contend with the complexities of war and human conduct. He reaches
a new perspective on these matters through his fathers eyes
and his own.

Dink fails to show up at Willies first baseball game, and
the disappointed Willie takes it out on Skip, who runs away. The
dogs disappearance and subsequent recovery teach Willie the
strength of forgiveness, and give Dink a chance to embrace the power
of redemption. Ultimately, it is a dogs love that teaches
Willie Morris lifelong lessons of the human spirit.

Directed by Jay Russell from screenwriter GAIL GILCHRIESTs
adaptation of the novel by Willie Morris, "My Dog Skip"
is produced by Alcon Entertainment. The producers are MARK JOHNSON,
JOHN LEE HANCOCK, ANDREW KOSOVE and BRODERICK JOHNSON. The executive
producers are MARTY EWING and Jay Russell. The director of photography
is JAMES CARTER. The production designer is DAVID BOMBA. The costume
designer is EDI GIGUERE. The editors are HARVEY ROSENSTOCK, A.C.E.,
and GARY WINTER, and the musical score is composed by WILLIAM ROSS.
Warner Bros. is distributing "My Dog Skip" worldwide.